Bad copies

Over the years, the Rural Libraries Network has published, in addition to the series and collections of books with different rescue themes, other publications that are the result of the meticulous research work of our remembered Alfredo Mires.

Such is the case of his artistic representations which he called ‘Ñaupas’, or ‘Ñaupitas’, referring to the most ancient character of our culture. As well as other traces, graphs, icons, taken from the mountains - many times - by hand and fist in the absence of a good camera, as Alfredo himself said. All of them, captured in his books of Iconography, in the Qayaqpuma series and in other valuable printed treasures.

These books, which for us are a sacred legacy, for other people are a wonderful source for copying the work of others. We often find reproductions of these images on clothing, posters - such as the one for Carnival 2024 - to whose promoters we sent a notarised letter that they never answered, only asking them to clarify the origin of the iconography used. We also find Alfredo's drawings on handmade souvenirs offered to tourists - some of them even retain the watermark, characteristic of our digital publications. We also see, from time to time, some prints on carnival costumes.

As a community organisation we do not oppose the use of this wonderful heritage, we only ask that the credits of the artistic author of these representations be respected. That the work and memory of this great man who left his life in every step through the mountains of our peoples be respected.